As a farmer, Fergusson gained a considerable reputation, becoming President of the Blackface Sheepbreeders’ Association, Deputy Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran and a member of the Scottish Landowners Federation and the Game Conservancy Trust.

As an MSP, he was a lead spokesman for Agriculture and Forestry for the Conservative party and Convener of the Rural Development Committee.

His father was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders before becoming a Church of Scotland minister at Leswalt.

[3] He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran and a member of the Scottish Landowners Federation and the Game Conservancy Trust.

"[6] During this time, Fergusson was lead spokesman for Agriculture and Forestry for the Conservative party, and Convener of the Rural Development Committee, including during the passage of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.

He gained a reputation as a passionate advocate on rural affairs, respected across parties for his political astuteness.

Fergusson was knighted in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to politics, the Scottish parliamentary process and public life in Scotland.

[16] He listed rugby, curling, Scottish country dancing, folk music and public speaking amongst his hobbies.

[18] The First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon paid tribute on Twitter, calling Fergusson a "distinguished presiding officer" and a "dedicated parliamentarian".